Colorable ball and kit for making

ABSTRACT

A kit and method for coloring the inside of a ball is disclosed, with the kit comprising at least one inflatable transparent or translucent ball having a valve stem, at least one colorant, and at least one paint injector for injecting at least one colorant into an inflatable ball. The paint injector comprises a hollow barrel, a plunger which fits into the hollow barrel, and at least one hollow needle for injecting said at least one colorant into said ball. The kit may also include a pump for inflating the ball before the colorant, preferably paint, is injected into the ball.

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/290,063, filed May 11, 2001 for a “Translucent BasketBall.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention discloses a kit for making a colorable ball whichcan be colored from the inside.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Over the years, the art of manufacturing balls has improved. Inmany cases, these improvements included adding color to the balls.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,195 (Sullivan et al) discloses ahigh-visibility inflated game ball such as a basketball, football,soccer ball, volleyball or the like. The game ball includes a centralinflated portion and a metallocene catalyzed polyolefin cover formedover the central inflated portion. In one embodiment, the cover hasfluorescent pigment, fluorescent dye, and/or optical brightenersincorporated therein in order to impart to the cover a reflectance of atleast 75% in at least a part of the visible spectrum. In anotherembodiment, reflective metallic particles are incorporated in additionto, or in place of the pigment, dye and optical brightener in order toadd a glittery appearance to the ball cover. The particularly preferredgame ball of the invention is a basketball. The game ball isparticularly useful at dusk when conventional basketballs of a dullorange color become difficult to see.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,400 (Schickert) Basketball backboards andother moldable plastic parts of basketball goal assemblies are formed ofthermoplastic materials made in a compression molding process enablinguse of an integrally molded graphics sheet. To produce the compressionmolded part with inmolded graphics, a peripheral edge of the printedgraphics sheet is positioned to register with a positioning surface inthe mold thereby aligning the graphics sheet relative to the mold. Thegraphics sheet bonds/melts with the base thermoplastic material duringthe molding operations and becomes a permanent inmolded graphics sheetsurrounded by a border portion. The printed graphics sheet is formed ofa material compatible with the thermoplastic material. A preferredthermoplastic material includes recycled plastic made fromlandfill-destined plastic and/or recycled glass fiber and/or otherfiller materials.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,573 (Kennedy) discloses a game ball with ahologram image and method of fabrication comprising a first outermostlayer. Such first layer has an exterior surface and an interior surface.The first layer is formed of a coating with a diffraction grating on itsinterior most surface. The first layer is coated with a solution, eithersolvent or water born, and is of a transparent material which is anultraviolet stabilized polymer. The material of the first layer is anacrylic polymer, preferably polyurethane and constitutes a flexiblemetalized sheet. A second layer has an exterior surface and an interiorsurface. The second layer is formed of a reflective layer of aluminumdeposit vacuum. A third innermost layer has an exterior surface and aninterior surface. The third layer is formed of hot melt adhesive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] This invention discloses a method and a kit for painting theinside of a ball such that the paint is visible from the outside. Thekit includes either a translucent or transparent ball, a colorant, and ameans for putting the colorant inside the ball. Preferably the colorantis injected inside the ball. More specifically, the colors are injectedinto the ball through a standard valve stem system, which is the systemin which the ball is inflated. A separate paint injector with a needlesimilar to a standard air pump needle is used to inject the color intothe ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an uninflated translucentbasketball;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the canisters holding the colorantto be used;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the colorant injectors into whichthe colorant is drawn;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the air pump for injecting airinto a ball; and

[0014]FIG. 5 is a cross section of a wall of a basketball.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a kit for coloring the inside of a ballcomprises at least one inflatable ball 1 The ball may be eithertranslucent or transparent, and should contain a valve stem 2. For easeof packing, the ball may be in a deflated 3 condition when packaged. Theball may be a basketball, football, soccer ball, volley ball, kick ball,and any combinations thereof.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a translucentbasketball is in the kit. The ball has a weight in the range betweenabout 525 grams and about 650 grams, and is between about 9 inches indiameter and about 10 inches in diameter. The ball can be of any size,weight, diameter, and/or dimension, depending on the type and purpose ofthe ball.

[0017] In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the materialused to create the translucent basketball is a formulation of PVC.Specifically, the formulation used for the translucent ball is asfollows:

[0018] Polyvinyl Chloride Paste in the range of about 49 to about 52%;

[0019] Plasticizer DOP in the range of about 45% to about 48%;

[0020] Stabilizer in the range of about 1.25% to about 2.25%;

[0021] and Pigment (Brightener) in the range of about 0.75% to about1.5%.

[0022] The amounts and percentages of each chemical component may differdepending on the amount of clarity desired in the plastic. Differentchemicals in different amounts will allow for more transparent balls.Varying the plasticizers and stabilizers will give the ball(s) differentdegrees of rigidity. Similarly, the amount of pigment will be dependentupon the other chemicals and their amounts in the plastic compound(s).

[0023] It should be noted that any number of plastics may be used toform a translucent or transparent ball including but not limited topolyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, other transparent and translucentplastics, and combinations thereof; however, the PVC formulations areusually the best and cheapest plastic to use. Other thermoplastic andpolyamide polymers which give a translucent or transparent appearancemay be used.

[0024] The ball is produced using a rotation mold. However, any methodknown to those skilled in the art may be used.

[0025] The ball will have a thickness of about 3.5 to about 4.75millimeters. It should be noted that ball thickness depends on what typeof ball is to be made.

[0026] The basketball, as with all other balls, is designed withtranslucent or, in some cases, transparent properties, so that acolorant 4, in this case contained in the containers 13 can be injectedinto the ball by means of the valve stem 2 which is the device by whichthe ball is inflated.

[0027] The kit also includes a colorant injector 5 for injecting acolorant 4. The colorant may be a wet paint, a dry paint, a dye, a stainor any other sort of product which allows for a adherence of thecolorant to the inside surface 6 of the ball as opposed to the outsidesurface 14 of the ball. The colorant injector 5 is used to inject thecolorant into the ball. and is comprised of a hollow barrel 7, a plunger8, and a hollow needle 9 for drawing the colorant 4 from its container13 into the hollow barrel 7 and for injecting the colorant 4 into theball 1 through the valve stem 2 so that the colorant 4 can color theinside surface 6 of the ball 1. The colorant 4 included in the kit orwhich may be used to coat the inside selected from the group consistingof black, white, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple, red, andcombinations thereof. A cover 10 may be used to fit over the hollowneedle.

[0028] Additionally, there may be added other colorants which do notadhere to the material being used, thereby providing an everchangingcolor pattern within the ball.

[0029] The kit may also include an air pump 11 with a needle 12 to pumpup the ball being painted. The needle may be part of the pump or may bea separate piece that fits into the pump 11 by conventional means.

[0030] To paint the inside of the ball, the ball 1 is inflated to thedesired circumference and rigidity level. This process is performed by astandard pump 11 and needle 12. The color 4 is injected into the ball 1using a colorant injector 5. Individuals draw the colorant 4 from thecontainer 13 into the colorant injector 5 by putting the tip of theneedle 9 into the colorant 4 and pulling the plunger 8 of the colorantinjector 5 up from the barrel 7 to suck up the colorant 4.

[0031] The needle 9 of the colorant injector 5 is then inserted into thevalve stem 2, and the individual presses down on the plunger forcing thecolorant 4 out of the barrel and into the translucent or transparentball 2. Individuals can aim the colorant 4 by rotating the ball 1. Afterinjecting the colorant 4 into the ball 1, the ball can be bounced orswirled around to create a unique pattern of color inside the ball 1.After swirling and/or bouncing the ball 1 around, further play with theball 1 should be curtailed for the colorant to dry before more colorantis injected or before using the ball.

[0032] It is possible to inject a colorant into the ball before the ballis inflated; however, it is more difficult to establish a color patternwithin the ball

[0033] As various changes could be made in the above constructionswithout departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is: 1) A kit for coloring the inside of a ball, said kitcomprising: A) at least one inflatable ball selected from the groupconsisting of translucent balls, and transparent balls, and combinationsthereof, said ball comprising a valve stem; B) at least one colorant;and C) at least one paint injector for injecting said at least onecolorant into said at least one inflatable ball, said at least one paintinjector comprising: i) a hollow barrel; ii) a plunger which fits intosaid hollow barrel; iii) at least one hollow needle for injecting saidat least one colorant into said ball. 2) The kit according to claim 1,wherein said at least one inflatable ball is selected from the groupconsisting of basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, volley balls, kickballs, and combinations thereof. 3) The kit according to claim 1,wherein said ball is translucent. 4) The kit according to claim 2,wherein said ball is a basketball. 5) The kit according to claim 1,wherein said colorant is selected from the group consisting of dyes,stains, and paints. 6) The kit according to claim 5, wherein saidcolorant is said paints. 7) The kit according to claim 1, wherein saidat least one ball is translucent. 8) The kit according to claim 1,wherein said at least one ball is transparent. 9) The kit according toclaim 1, wherein said at least one ball is comprised of a materialselected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride,other transparent and translucent plastics, and combinations thereof.10) The kit according to claim 6, wherein said paints are comprised ofcolors selected from the group consisting of black, white, yellow, blue,orange, green, purple, red, and combinations thereof. 11) The kitaccording to claim 1, further comprising at least one pump to inflatesaid at least one ball. 12) The kit according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one needle for said at least one pump to inflatesaid at least one ball. 13) The kit according to claim 1, wherein saidcolorant does not adhere to the inside of said at least one ball. 14) Amethod of coloring the inside of a ball, comprising: inflating a ballhaving a valve stem, said ball selected from the group consisting oftransparent balls and translucent balls; and injecting a colorant intosaid ball by means of a paint injector, said colorant being injectedinto said ball by means of a at least one paint injector. 15) The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein said at least one inflatable ball isselected from the group consisting of basketballs, footballs, soccerballs, volley balls, kick balls, and combinations thereof. 16) Themethod according to claim 14, wherein said ball is translucent. 17) Themethod according to claim 14, wherein said ball is a basketball. 18) Themethod according to claim 14, wherein said colorant is selected from thegroup consisting of dyes, stains, and paints. 19) The method accordingto claim 18, wherein said colorant is said paints. 20) The methodaccording to claim 14, wherein said at least one ball is translucent.21) The method according to claim 14, wherein said at least one ball istransparent. 22) The method according to claim 14, wherein said at leastone ball is comprised of a material selected from the group consistingof polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, other transparent and translucentplastics, and combinations thereof. 23) The method according to claim14, wherein said colorants are comprised of colors selected from thegroup consisting of black, white, yellow, blue, orange, green, purple,red, and combinations thereof. 25) The method according to claim 14,further comprising at least one pump to inflate said at least one ball.26) The method according to claim 14, further comprising at least oneneedle for said at least one pump to inflate said at least one ball. 27)The method according to claim 14, wherein a colorant which does notadhere to the inside of the ball is injected. 28) A toy devicecomprising: a ball being either translucent or transparent, said ballhaving a valve stem; a colorant positioned on the inside of said ball.